Whistle-Blowers in Viet Nam : Possibilities and obstacles from an institutional perspective

Abstract: This study aims to investigate, from an institutional perspective, the implications of the new anti-corruption law in Viet Nam with a particular focus on its impact on civil society and individual rights to report on corruption. The overarching research question is: How do formal and informal institutions affect whistle-blowers possibilities to engage in combat of corruption in Viet Nam? To blow the whistle in Viet Nam can be problematic, with consequences such as loosing his/hers job and social exclusion. Whistle-blowers in Viet Nam today seem to have an insufficient confidence to official authorities. Moreover, a problem of significance is that whistle-blowers have to state their name and contact details when reporting on corrupt acts to competent agencies. Another problem is that civil society is strongly connected to the CPV (Communist Party of Viet Nam).